Organizations coordinate disaster response

After the 1998 flood that struck Victoria and other areas of the Crossroads, the need for an organized disaster volunteer and relief effort became apparent to John Johnston.

Johnston, volunteering with the Texas Baptist Men serving meals to flood victims in the First Baptist Church parking lot in Victoria, saw a caravan pull up.

"There was an 18-wheeler, a couple of SUVs pulling trailers, cars," Johnston recalled.

A man from the Samaritan's Purse convoy approached Johnston and asked what they could do to help.

"I didn't have an answer," Johnston said.

The caravan eventually moved down river to Goliad.

"Goliad needed help, too. We all did. But I couldn't help but wonder how often that happens. We lost resources."

Johnston realized that Victoria is blessed with a lot of nonprofit organizations and other groups that specialize in certain areas.

"I thought, why not get a group together to coordinate existing resources, not overlap services and grow to address the need," said Johnston, a development engineer and flood plain administrator with the city of Victoria.

More than a dozen Victoria nonprofit agencies, health organizations and governmental entities make up the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.

Using the national VOAD as a framework, the Victoria organization has a plan in place for local volunteer organization and donations management.